BNSF seeks PTC deadline extension due to interoperability delays

BNSF Railway Co. has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation for a two-year extension to the federally mandated positive train control (PTC) deadline due to interoperability delays with other railroads, the Class I announced yesterday.

BNSF announced in December 2017 that it had installed and was operating under PTC on all mandated subdivisions ahead of the Dec. 31, 2018, deadline. However, BNSF will require an extension due to the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) current interpretation of the PTC law.

The FRA's interpretation requires that all other railroads operating across any of BNSF's PTC-equipped lines must be capable of operating with BNSF's PTC system. Not all railroads that operate on BNSF track will have completed their installation by the end of this year, BNSF officials said in a press release.

"BNSF has succeeded in the adoption of this key safety technology. Even with this request for a deadline extension, BNSF's PTC network is installed and we are currently running, and will continue to run, more than a thousand trains daily with PTC as we continue to refine the system and resolve technological challenges," said Chris Matthews, BNSF assistant vice president of network control systems.

The interoperability of PTC systems between Class I, commuter and short-line rail carriers "remains a challenge," BNSF officials said.

BNSF completed installation of all mandated PTC infrastructure by 2017's end, including 88 required subdivisions covering more than 11,500 route miles on its network.

The Class I has "successfully demonstrated" interoperability with several railroads that operate on its network, including commuter railroads and Amtrak, BNSF officials said.